Biomedical subjects

A Konno

Publications and source records attributed to A Konno.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

Nitric oxide synthase-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the nasal mucosa of the rat.

An immunohistochemical study was performed to detect the localization of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the rat nasal mucosa by light and electron microscopy. NOS-immunoreactive nerve fibers were observed around blood vessels and seromucous glands. They were found in the subepithelial layer and even within the epithelium. But no NOS-immunoreactivity was found in the olfactory neuroepithelium. Electron microscopy showed that NOS-immunoreactive nerve profiles were in close contact with the cytolemma of respiratory epithelial cells and acinar cells of seromucous glands. NOS-immunoreactive axon varicosities were located at a considerable distance from the smooth muscle of arterioles and small veins as well as the endothelial cells of venules and capillaries. We confirmed that NOS-containing nerves innervated the epithelium, blood vessels and seromucous glands of the nasal mucosa. These findings, collectively, suggested the possibility that nitric oxide participated in the sensory function of the epithelium, the secretory activities of the nasal gland, and the regulation of vascular tone and vascular permeability in the nasal mucosa.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

PubMed1994

Differential expression of bcl-2 and susceptibility to anti-Fas-mediated cell death in peripheral blood lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils.

The recently identified Fas antigen (Ag) is a cell surface molecule that can mediate apoptosis. The cytoplasmic product of proto-oncogene bcl-2 has been shown to prolong the cellular survival by inhibiting apoptosis. To elucidate the physiologic significance of expression of both molecules, we examined the expression of Fas Ag and bcl-2 on blood leukocyte populations and evaluated their sensitivity to the cytolytic action of anti-Fas antibody. Although Fas Ag was expressed on a fraction of lymphocytes, both neutrophils and monocytes expressed Fas Ag constitutively. In contrast, there was marked difference among these leukocytes regarding bcl-2 expression. Lymphocytes expressed bcl-2 intensely, but monocytes showed weaker bcl-2 expression, and neutrophils were essentially absent for bcl-2 expression. Seemingly reflecting this lack of bcl-2-expression, neutrophils more easily underwent apoptotic cell death in vitro as compared with monocytes and lymphocytes. We showed that anti-Fas antibody affectively accelerated apoptotic cell death in neutrophils. However, the apoptosis-inducing effect of anti-Fas antibody was minimal on monocytes, and lymphocytes were resistant to this antibody. These results suggest that anti-Fas-mediated cell death may, in part, be determined by bcl-2 expression status in Fas+ lymphoid and hematopoietic cells.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Ionizing radiation induces apoptotic cell death in human TcR-gamma/delta+ T and natural killer cells without detectable p53 protein.

The p53 tumor suppressor gene has been shown to be involved in programmed cell death, apoptosis, in murine immature thymocytes after treatment with ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation also induces apoptosis in peripheral mature lymphocytes. In this work, we investigated the p53 participation in radiation-induced apoptosis in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) subpopulations. Exposure to gamma-irradiation resulted in an appreciable induction of apoptotic cell death in TcR-alpha/beta+ (CD4+ and CD8+) T cells, TcR-gamma/delta+ T cells, B cells and natural killer (NK) cells, as assessed by DNA fragmentation as well as the morphological characteristics. Importantly, it was found that there was a marked difference among PBL subpopulations as regards the induction of p53 protein by gamma-irradiation. Similar to previous observations for murine thymocytes, p53 induction in TcR-alpha/beta+ T cells and B cells after gamma-irradiation was evident by Western blot analysis. Radiation-induced apoptosis in TcR-alpha/beta+ T cells and B cells was efficiently inhibited by cycloheximide, indicating the requirement of de novo protein synthesis, including p53 protein, for radiation-induced apoptosis in both subpopulations. In marked contrast, no identifiable levels of p53 protein were induced in either TcR-gamma/delta+ T or NK cells after gamma-irradiation. In addition, it was demonstrated that radiation-induced cell death in TcR-gamma/delta+ T and NK cells could be prevented by interleukin-2, but not by cycloheximide. These results imply that radiation-induced lymphocytic apoptosis can be mediated by p53-dependent or -independent mechanisms.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Biochemical properties of eosinophils and their preferential accumulation mechanism in nasal allergy.

Recent information intensely suggests that eosinophils are pivotal proinflammatory cells in a variety of allergic inflammatory diseases including bronchial asthma, nasal allergy, hypereosinophilic syndrome, and various cutaneous diseases. Eosinophils, via their release of basic proteins and lipid mediators, are strongly implicated in the onset of allergic symptoms of the nose. They play an important role particularly in nasal swelling and hyperreactivity. Despite the current multitude of research investigating eosinophils in vitro, the mechanism that mediates and controls the accumulation of eosinophils in vivo is incompletely understood. In this article the following issues will be addressed: (1) How do eosinophils migrate into the nasal mucosa? (2) What factors contribute to preferential eosinophil accumulation and their degranulation in nasal mucosa? (3) How can we inhibit the eosinophil accumulation and activation?

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Mode of action of a topical steroid on immediate phase reaction after antigen challenge and nonspecific nasal hyperreactivity in nasal allergy.

This study compared the effects of 2-week administration of a topical steroid (fluticasone propionate [FP] 100 micrograms twice daily) with placebo in 28 patients with perennial nasal allergy who were allergic to house dust and mites in a double-blind randomized study. The number of inflammatory cells and decidual epithelial cells and concentrations of tryptase and eosinophil cationic protein in nasal lavages, and reactivity of the nasal mucosa to histamine and to antigen were investigated. The topical steroid, FP, significantly inhibited all of these assessments. The degree of improvement of nasal reactivity to histamine significantly correlated with the degree of decrease in eosinophil cationic protein levels.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed1994

Mechanism of eosinophil infiltration in the patient with subcutaneous angioblastic lymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (Kimura's disease). Mechanism of eosinophil chemotaxis mediated by candida antigen and IL-5.

Kimura's disease is a chronic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Although eosinophilia is one of the characteristic features in this disease, little is known about the mechanism of eosinophilia. In the present study it was demonstrated that interleukin-5 (IL-5) was produced and released from the site of a granuloma and lymph nodes after stimulation with candida antigen. It was also shown that peripheral blood eosinophils from patients with Kimura's disease contained a large proportion of hypodense eosinophils and that their viability was prolonged. These results strongly suggest that locally produced IL-5 induced by candida antigen contributes to the eosinophilia in this disease.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Hemodynamic changes in the head and neck after ligation of the unilateral carotid arteries: a study using color Doppler imaging.

For evaluation of the hemodynamics of the collateral circulation to the ligated external carotid artery (ECA) region, we measured the blood flow direction and volume in branches of the ECA in patients with unilateral carotid artery ligation before and during digital suppression of the common carotid artery (CCA) on the ligated and nonligated sides with color Doppler imaging and angiography. The main collateral pathway to the ligated ECA region was the ipsilateral occipital artery through Richter's anastomosis from the vertebral artery in the case of unilateral ECA ligation, and was the contralateral carotid artery in the case of unilateral CCA, ECA, and internal carotid artery resection. The superior and inferior labial arteries were important as the collateral pathway from the contralateral ECA.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

PubMed1994

Effect of psychic stimulation on plasma catecholamine concentrations and nasal patency in patients with nasal allergy.

To compare the degree of sympathoadrenal and nasal vascular response to psychic stimulation between patients with nasal allergy and normal controls, we measured the changes in plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations and nasal patency elicited by cannulation into the forearm vein and mental arithmetic in 28 patients with nasal allergy and age- and sex-matched normal controls. Ten of the 28 allergy patients had markedly swollen, pale, edematous nasal mucosa and served as a subgroup of nasal allergy patients. Plasma catecholamine levels increased significantly, with a synchronous increase of nasal patency, during stimulation. Among the three groups, no statistical differences were observed in plasma catecholamine levels either at rest or during stimulation. There was no significant difference in extent of increase of nasal patency induced by stimulation in the total group of subjects with nasal allergy compared with normal controls. However, it was significantly smaller in a subgroup of nasal allergy patients having markedly pale, edematous swelling of the nasal mucosa.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Perforin-like immunoreactivity in feline globule leukocytes and their distribution.

Distributional and immunohistochemical characteristics of the feline globule leukocyte (GL) were investigated by light microscopy. The GL, which contained eosinophilic large granules in the cytoplasm, was frequently found in the epithelia of the intestine and gall bladder, and less frequently found in those of the gastric pit, intrahepatic bile duct, and interlobular secretory duct of the pancreas. No GL was seen in the respiratory and urogenital organs. The GLs composed a homogeneous cell population including no mast cells according to the following histochemical stainings; phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin, alcian blue and peroxidase. The feline GL showed perforin-like immunoreactivity to anti-human perforin monoclonal antibody, but did not show histamine-immunoreactivity to anti-histamine polyclonal antibody. The results suggest that the feline GL is a lineage of large granular lymphocytes. The epitheliotropism and characteristics as granular lymphocytes of the feline GLs were similar to those of the intestinal gamma delta T cells of the mouse.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Interleukin-5 gene expression in nasal mucosa and changes in amount of interleukin-5 in nasal lavage fluid after antigen challenge.

Eosinophils and their products are known to cause hyperreactivity and swelling of the nasal mucosa in subjects with nasal allergy. Interleukin-5 (IL-5) not only induces differentiation and proliferation of immature eosinophils but also causes mature cells to accumulate and activate. This study shows that IL-5 is actually produced in the human nasal mucosa by antigen challenge, and it further investigates the changes in the amount of IL-5 in nasal lavage fluids after antigen challenge. Expression of mRNA for IL-5 in nasal mucosa was investigated using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Southern blot analysis. Among the 4 subjects with nasal allergy examined in this study, expression of mRNA for IL-5 was observed in 2 prior to antigen challenge; within 6 h after antigen challenge it was seen in 3 subjects. We also found that the amount of IL-5 in the nasal lavage fluids obtained consecutively after antigen challenge increased predominantly in the late phase, and that the number of eosinophils in the IL-5 positive group was significantly higher than that in the IL-5 negative group. These results strongly suggest that IL-5 contributes to the recruitment of eosinophils in the nasal mucosa of the subjects with nasal allergy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

[A ornithine decarboxylase activity and proliferating cell nuclear antigen in gastric cancer].

To investigate ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in gastric cancer, ODC activity and PCNA were measured in 50 resected samples. The relationship between both and clinicopathologic factors was examined. ODC activity was 473.3 +/- 54.7 pmol CO2/60 min/mg protein in tumors, and 273.5 +/- 38.3 pmol CO2/60 min/mg protein in normal mucosa. ODC activity in tumors was significantly higher than that of normal mucosa. ODC activity in tumors was significantly high in gross type 4, maximum diameter more than 10 cm, depth se, infiltrative growth (INF) gamma, positive lymph vessel invasion and positive lymph node metastasis. PCNA-LI was 24.7 +/- 1.5% in tumors, and 13.9 +/- 1.1% in normal mucosa. PCNA-LI of tumors was significantly higher than that of normal mucosa. PCNA-LI of tumors was significantly high in gross type 2, histological type tub 2 and por, depth ss beta and se, IFN beta, positive lymph vessel invasion, positive venous invasion, and positive lymph node metastasis. ODC activity and PCNA-LI were closely related in normal mucosa, showing a correlation coefficient of 0.730. On the other hand, their relationship was weak in tumors, showing a correlation coefficient of 0.417. These results suggest the differentiation of value between ODC activity and PCNA-LI in gastric cancer. In gastric cancer, ODC activity and PCNA-LI in tumors may be good markers of lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, PCNA-LI may be a good marker of hematogenous metastasis.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Effects of a protein-free diet or food restriction on the immune system of Wistar and Buffalo rats at different ages.

The effects of a protein-free diet or food restriction on the immune system were examined in two rat strains, Wistar and Buffalo, in different age-groups. Unlike Wistar rats, Buffalo rats have an unusually hyperplastic thymus and a large number of peripheral T cells. The protein-free diet (PFD) in rats resulted in marked thymic involution together with a reduction of splenic T cells, both in number and in antibody response to sheep red blood cells. The depressive effect of the PFD on the immune system was more serious in young immature rats than in older rats, but less serious in Buffalo rats having enhanced T cell functions regardless of age. Thymic involution was also accelerated in both strains of rats by feeding them a restricted amount of the control diet containing well-balanced nutrients (food restriction, FR). In the FR experiment, no significant change was observed in immune functions of Wistar rats. A slight reduction was observed in the immune functions of Buffalo rats with FR, but absolute levels were distinctly higher in Buffalo rats than in Wistar rats even after FR. These results suggested (1) that the thymic function is sensitive to protein deficiency; (2) that a well-balanced dietary condition is necessary for immunological maturation in the early stage of life and preservation of immune functions at older age; (3) that animals having higher immune functions are more resistant to malnutrition than ordinary ones.

Aging↗

PubMed1993

Distribution of NADPH-diaphorase positive nerve fibers in the rat nasal mucosa.

Nasal mucosa was investigated by NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry. Positive fibers were distributed around blood vessels, seromucous glands and in the subepithelial layer. The pterygopalatine, trigeminal and superior cervical ganglia were also studied to examine the origin of these fibers. Many neurons in the pterygopalatine ganglion were labeled, and a few neurons were stained in the trigeminal ganglion. No perikarya were labeled in the superior cervical ganglion. Therefore, most of the labeled fibers must be originating from the pterygopalatine ganglion, and the rest of them may originate from the trigeminal ganglion. These results suggest that nitric oxide may have some role in the nervous control of the nasal mucosa.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Synovial osteochondromatosis of the temporo-mandibular joint.

A rare case of synovial osteochondromatosis of the temporo-mandibular joint is presented. Important diagnostic information can be obtained by CT, MRI, 99m Tc bone scan and aspiration biopsy. Observation using a light microscope showed mild cellular atypia, but the hallmarks characteristic of chondrosarcoma were not found. Observation using an electron microscope showed the mature chondrocytes contained a well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum. Histological evaluation indicated that the present case was benign synovial osteochondromatosis in an early stage.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Acute interstitial nephritis with symmetric enlargement of the lacrymal and salivary glands and systemic lymphadenopathy.

We describe a 40-year-old man who developed symmetric enlargement of the lacrymal and salivary glands and systemic lymphadenopathy. Laboratory findings included eosinophilia, polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, elevated circulating immune complexes, hypocomplementemia, and renal insufficiency. The lymph node pathology was atypical of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with disproteinemia (AILD), in that it lacked a prominence of arborizing small vessel proliferation. Despite extensive examinations, the cause of the atypical AILD process has not been identified. However, a flow-cytometric analysis of immunophenotypes of lymphoid cells from the lymph node revealed a predominance of activated helper/inducer T cells, indicating a hyperimmune state. Acute interstitial nephritis was secondary to the renal propagation of the atypical AILD process. Thus, atypical AILD can be a new cause of acute interstitial nephritis. A course of combined steroids and immunosuppressive treatment resolved those pathologic disorders for 5 years.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1993

Evaluation of brain collateral circulation by the transcranial color Doppler-guided Matas' test.

For the determination of the indication for reconstruction of the carotid artery in patients with head and neck cancer, a color Doppler-guided Matas' test was performed to examine brain collateral circulation and blood flow of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and internal carotid artery (ICA). Both SSA-270A convex (3.75 MHz) and linear (3.75 MHz and 2.5 MHz) array probes (Toshiba Co, Ltd) were used for this investigation. A temporary occlusion test (60 seconds) by digital pressure on the common carotid artery was performed on 30 patients with head and neck cancer. The results were classified into four groups according to the relative flow volume (percent blood flow volume before the test) of the MCA: group A, with a flow volume of 87% or more; group B, with a flow volume between 72% and 86%; group C, with a flow volume between 57% and 71%; and group D, with a flow volume of 56% or less. The relative flow volume of the MCA was correlated with the ICA stump pressure and single photon emission computed tomography during a balloon Matas' test (ICA occlusion). This test seems to be useful in predicting the risk of carotid resection without reconstruction and in determining the indication for reconstruction of the carotid artery.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Interleukin-5 preferentially recruits eosinophils from vessels in nasal mucosa.

Interleukin-5 (IL-5), initially described as possessing eosinophil differentiating and proliferating activity, has now been shown to exert its effects on mature eosinophils. To investigate the ability of recombinant human IL-5 (rhIL-5) to cause the migration of eosinophils in the nasal mucosa in vivo, we compared the eosinophil counts in nasal mucosa without and after the nasal application of rhIL-5. In addition, the percentages of eosinophils in leukocytes within the vascular lumens in the nasal mucosa were counted to determine whether IL-5 recruited eosinophils from the vessels. The total number of eosinophils in both the epithelium and lamina propria, as well as the percentage of eosinophils in leukocytes within the lumens of vessels in the nasal mucosa after the application of IL-5, were higher than those in control nasal mucosa. Conversely, neither the number of neutrophils in the nasal mucosa nor the percentages of neutrophils in vessels differed between the two groups of nasal mucosa. The results strongly suggest that IL-5 preferentially recruits eosinophils from vessels into the lamina propria.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Misdirected reinnervation in the feline intrinsic laryngeal muscles after long-term denervation.

Nerve terminals which resembled the autonomic nerve varicosities were found at all neuromuscular junctions of the feline intrinsic laryngeal muscles after 21 months of unilateral laryngeal paralysis. The structure of muscle fibers was preserved throughout this period, although there was no evidence of regeneration of transected recurrent laryngeal nerve. In the cricothyroid muscle, misdirected reinnervation was recognized in the different pathways from the other intrinsic laryngeal muscles.

Animals↗